'Person of interest' identified in mysterious death of Bulger witness

Stephen Rakes found dead in Lincoln

Investigators have a 'person of interest' in the mysterious death of Stephen Rakes, an alleged extortion victim of James 'Whitey' Bulger, Team 5 Investigates Kathy Curran reported Thursday.

Investigators believe that Rakes, whose body was found in Lincoln last month, owed the person money and that Rakes may have been poisoned with cyanide.

Rakes' death is not connected to Bulger or any of his associates, Curran reported.

Rakes, who was 59 and living in Quincy, claimed Bulger and his gang took his South Boston liquor store from him at gunpoint in 1984. He was set to testify against Bulger, but was dropped from the witness list by prosecutors.

It appeared to investigators that Rakes' body had been dumped in Lincoln. He had no wallet or identification.

An autopsy showed no signs of trauma, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office.

Team 5 Investigates reported that a search warrant was executed in Sudbury and that the 'person of interest' in this case is now hospitalized.

A spokeswoman for the district attorney said the investigation is ongoing and they are awaiting toxicology results.

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